How the Lord works…Benson
“The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums, Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mould men by changing their environment. Christ changes men who then change their environment. The world would shape human behaviour, but Christ can change human behaviour.”
Ezra Taft Benson
Francis Frangipane Quotes
Bob was greatly impacted by the writings of Francis Frangipane and regularly quoted from his works.
“Being near to God gives us eyes within. In Christ our eyes can think; they can see with discernment and understanding. When you cleave to the truth inwardly, you will perceive the truth outwardly.”
“The Spirit of God dwells in us. In this light let us ask ourselves again the age-old question; “What is man?” We know how we appear to other men, but if God is truly within us, how do we appear to angels or devils? What light marks us in the spirit-world, what illumination surrounds us, what glory declares to the invisible realm: ‘Behold and beware, here walks a son of God!’
Think of it: The Spirit of the Creator, who purposed in the beginning to make man in His image is in you … now!”
“There is only one thing that keeps most churches from prospering spiritually. They have yet to find God.”
“The Book of Psalms tells us that God covers Himself ‘with light as with a garment’ (Ps. 104:2 K.J.V.). The apostle John declares ‘God is light’ (1 John 1:5). And James refers to the Father as ‘the Father of Lights’ (James 1:17). You and I are the ‘lights’ that God has fathered. We are children of God and, as such, the light of His Presence shines within us. As our hearts are purified by Truth, the splendour of God’s glory expands around us; and like our Father, we also cover ourselves ‘with light as with a garment’.”
“When true holiness exists in a Christian’s life, it produces a luminosity, a glow around that individual. From the moment Christ enters within us, we are holy, set apart unto God. This kind of holiness is the same sanctification that made the utensils in the temple holy: holy because they were used in service to the Lord. They had no virtue in themselves; their material substance did not change. Christianity, in general, is holy in that sense. But the holiness we are seeking is the fulfilment of having been set apart. We are seeking a holiness that mirrors, through us, the Presence of God in Heaven. We are seeking both His nature and His quality of life.”
“Our world is a world in darkness. Our ancestors were sons of darkness. Our carnal minds yet remain theatres of darkness. In a world of choices, we must choose light.”
“The Bible is a book of reversals. Old things become new, the dead come to life, the lost are found. Even those who were the vilest of sinners are now empowered by grace to become the virgin bride of Jesus Christ.”
“The last virgin church shall become pregnant with the promise of God. Corporately manifested in holiness, power and love, the bride of Christ shall arise clothed in white garments, bright and clean. During this last and greatest move of God, great darkness shall cover the earth. Radiant shall they appear, for their hearts shall possess the beautiful Star of the Morning. In holy array, from the womb of the dawn, their light shall exult like the dew!”
Come Holy Spirit
More sermon notes from Bob on the subject of the Holy Spirit…
* Wigglesworth – 1947
* Obbold – Ezekiel 37
ARE WE READY FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT?
* SPIRIT of the LIVING GOD
1 John 4:13 – “By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.”
1. SPIRIT OF TRUTH
John 14:16,17 – “He dwells in you and will be in you” (the eyes of the Lord)
2. SPIRIT OF GLORY
1 Pet. 4:14 – “The spirit of glory and of God rests upon you”
2 Cor. 3:17,18 – “The Lord is the Spirit”
– from glory to glory
3. SPIRIT OF HOLINESS
1 Cor. 3:16 – “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you”
James 4:5 – “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”
4. SPIRIT OF REVELATION
1 Cor. 2:10 – “God has revealed it to us by His Spirit”
1 Cor. 2:12 – “not the spirit of the world”
5. SPIRIT OF POWER
Acts 1:8 – “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”
6. SPIRIT OF LOVE
Romans 5:5 – “Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”
7. SPIRIT OF GRACE
1 Cor. 12:7-11
When the Holy Spirit really comes
[Pentecost is celebrated this weekend - it seemed an appropriate time to post this sermon - Ed]
1. TANGIBLE – ACTS 2:1-4
- Something actually happened – phenomena
- Physical – violent wind
- Perceivable – tongues of fire
- Audible – other tongues
v12 – Aamazed and perplexed
2. PROPHETIC – ACTS 2:14-21
- They became prophetic
- The purpose of God / desire of God fulfilled in us.
3. EVANGELISTIC – REVELATIONAL
- See the real meaning of Jesus
- Acts 2:22-41
v38 – Repent – Baptized – Received
4. CORPORATE – ACTS 2:44-47
- Teaching
- Fellowship
- Awe
- Signs and Wonders
- Community
- Worship and Praise
= Growth – v47
5. POWERFUL – ACTS 3:1-10
Let signs follow – don’t follow signs
6. SANCTIFYING – ACTS 5:1-11
v11 – the fear of God
- Implications – personal – John 7:38
- Corporate
- Message – declare Jesus
- Ministry -demonstration of power
Holy Spirit stir us up
“God causes divine dissatisfaction in our hearts. I believe that is how God starts. We don’t seek God just from cold. It is not in us just to turn to God and seek Him with all our hearts. There is a stirring within us by the Holy Spirit. Very often we don’t recognize it as the hand of God but God begins to work by many different means to rouse us from our contentment with things as they are. It is impossible to say how God will move in your life. I now know how He worked in mine but I can’t say how He will work in yours. He knows you and He knows the way you take. He has, I believe, more ways of dealing with people than there are people to be dealt with. But move He will.”
Bob Gordon
Faith 5
JOSHUA 3:1-8
1Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2 At the end of three days the officers went through the camp 3and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. 4 Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” 5Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” 6And Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.
7The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 8And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’”
HEBREWS 11:1-6
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
4By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. 5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Possible to achieve many things with faith – but not to please God.
1. FAITH IS A RESPONSE TO REVELATION
- not just a good idea
God’s word is what is faithful
Greatest exercise of my own spirit
Ephesians 2:8
2. FAITH IS AN ATTITUDE OF HUMBLE DEPENDENCE
Unless the Lord build the house
- making room for God to move
3. FAITH IS A MOTIVATION BORN OF CONVICTION
Hebrews 11:8 – “obeyed and went”
4. FAITH IS AN EXPECTATION IN THE POWER OF GOD
Hebrews 11:19 – “Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead”
5. FAITH IS A PRACTICAL PRINCIPLE OF GOD’S KINGDOM
Hebrews 11:33 – the achievements of faith
6. FAITH IS A WILLINGNESS TO BEAR THE PRESSURE OF THE KINGDOM
Luke 18:8 – it is the distinctive principle of God’s kingdom
Faith 4
* 1 THESS. 1:8 – Your faith in God has become known everywhere.
* Luke 18:8
* Heb. 11:6
Source
Attitude
Effect
Control
Motivating
1. CHARACTER OF FAITH
Five-Finger Exercise for God
a. Grace - Eph. 2:8,9- it is the gift of God
b. Truth - Jude 3 – to contend for the faith (also 1 Cor. 16:13)
c. Gift - 1 Cor. 12:9 – to another faith by the same Spirit
d. Power - Acts 3:16 – by faith in the name of Jesus
e. Victory - 1 John 5:4 – overcomes the world
2. THE WORD OF FAITH
Rom. 10:17- through the word of Christ
Heb. 4:12
a. Creates Faith In Us
Rom. 10:8 – the word is near you
- Addresses the Will
b. Prepares Us For Faith
1 John 3:21 – hearts do not condemn us
- Searches the Heart
c. Enables Us In Faith
Mark 11:23 – does not doubt in his heart
James 1:6 -must believe and not doubt
- Renews the Mind
d. Directs Us In Faith
Is. 30:21 – left / right
- Controls the Actions
e. Confirms Us In Faith
Is. 66:7-9 – Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery? says the LORD.
- Strengthens the Spirit
3. CRUCIBLES OF FAITH
2 Cor. 4:7 – treasure in earthen vessels
a. Challenge (Conflict)
- belief in God – Heb. 11:6 – that HE is (AV)
- about ourselves – Rom. 8:7 – the sinful mind is hostile to God
- regarding circumstances – Jer. 32:17
Abraham / Isaac; Moses / Pharaoh; Joshua / Jericho; Gideon / Mideon
b. Solitude
Elijah – I alone am left of all the prophets of Israel
The Cross
c. Perseverance of Faith (Endurance)
hupomone
James 1:4
Heb. 12:1 – let us run with perseverance – looking to Jesus
Heb. 10:39 – not those who shrink back (hypostle)
4. PRINCIPLE OF FAITH
2 Cor. 9:6 – Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Offering at Elim
John 12:23,24 – Gods principle of growth
The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
5. FOOTSTEPS OF FAITH
a. Build Relationship with Heavenly Father
* Matt. 6:9 – Our Father in heaven
b. Listen to God in the Spirit
* To receive the word of faith
* Expect God to speak
* Wimbledon
* Tilgate
* Roffey – Is. 66:9
c. Build your Ebenezers
1 Sam. 7:12
d. Use the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
* 1 Cor. 12:7ff
* Pray in the Spirit
* Knowledge
e. Gain Release from satan (Spiritual Warfare)
Eph. 6:10 - Finally, be strong in the LORD and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God.
f. Ask in Faith
Luke 11:9
g. Stand on the Word of God
Is. 55:10,11 – As the rain and the snow come down from heaven … so is my word that goes out from my mouth
Faith 3
1. THE DEFINITION OF FAITH
Heb. 11:6
a. Eph. 2:8 – Conversion faith – faith that saves
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
b. 1 Cor. 16:13 – Doctrinal faith – that confesses
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
Jude 3
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
c. Heb. 11:6 – Power / dynamic faith – faith that claims
1 Cor. 12:9
to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
2. THE URGENCY FOR FAITH
Ploughed Field
a. Spiritual diversions / traditional enemies
- Islam
Christianity seen as a heretical alternative.
b. Power of the Church
c. Crisis in the World
- self-interest
- global problems – Aids
- impotence of man
3. THE PROCESS OF FAITH (COST)
2 Cor. 4:7
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
- Heart – 1 John 3:21 – burden of faith
- In Terms of…
- self
- struggle - solitude - Mind – Rom. 12:2 – to be able to receive Gods Word – Jer. 32:8; Is. 66:9 - Tongue – James 3 – to be able to speak faith - Spirit – Rom. 8:26,27 - tongues - praise - scripture - promise 4. THE CONFLICT OF FAITH At heart it is spiritual warfare Self - inner battle / self-discipline Solitude - lonely road Satan - deny the word of God – Eve - direct the purposes of God -Luke 4 - destroy the servant of God - Herod - the Cross 5. THE PRAYER OF FAITH * Luke 11:9 – Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. * Difference between intercession / prayer of faith * Hilda *1 John 5:4 – This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
Faith 2
FAITH IS NOT JUST BELIEVING
– IT IS REMAINING
Heb. 10:35, 36 – Do not throw away your confidence … you need to persevere.
Men of Faith – committed to the UNSEEN.
What blurs this vision?
- Sin - draws the evil?
- Anger - disturbs the water
- Fear - alters the focus
- Pride - changes our standpoint
Hebrews 11
1. v3 - Remain in the power of God
By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
2. v6 - Remain in the knowledge of God
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
3. v13,14 - Remain in the praise of God
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
4. v17 - Remain in the trust of God
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,
5. v27 - Remain in the glory of God
By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
6. v33 - Remain in the victory of God
who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
7. 12:2 - Remain in the Son of God
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Faith 1
[One of Bob's favourite topics, and the guiding principle for his life, was faith. The next series of posts will consist of his sermon outlines on this important topic - Ed]
Habakkuk 2:4 – “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
but the righteous shall live by his faith.
Romans 1:17 – For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Hebrews 10:38 – …but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”
* Ian Petit
Keynote Scriptures:
Heb. 11:6 - Impossible - Principle
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Luke 18:8 - Find - Prospect
Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
2 Cor. 5:7 - Live by Faith - Present (not by sight)
…for we walk by faith, not by sight.
1. ROMANS 14:23 – IS SIN
Everything that does not come from faith is sin
2. JAMES 2:26 – BODY WITHOUT SOUL
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Cliff Richard – My career gives my faith utterance.
3. ROMANS 12:6 – IN PROPORTION TO FAITH
Let him use (his gift) in proportion to his faith
4. 1 THESS. 3:10 – LACKING IN FAITH
We may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
5. 2 COR. 10:15 – CONTINUES TO GROW
Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow our area of activity among you will greatly expand.
6. ROMANS 4:20 – STRENGTHENED IN FAITH
v18 – Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed
v20 – Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith
7. 1 JOHN 5:4 – THE VICTORY
This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
Muller – No one ever knew Jehovah without being able to exercise faith in Him.
Relationship - Matt. 6:9 – Father
Memory - Ebenezers
Simplicity - Luke 11:9 – Ask
Perseverance - Heb. 12:1 – let us run with patience
Crucible - 2 Cor. 4:7